Ivory Coast defeated Iran 71:69 in the second round of Group G at the FIBA World Cup.
Ivory Coast started strong, taking an 8-2 lead, but Iran turned the tide and ended the first 10 minutes in a better position.
The Asian team’s performance declined, allowing Ivory Coast to take the lead. Dejan Prokic’s team had a strong period in the middle of the second quarter, but by halftime, Iran managed to narrow the gap to just two points.
🇨🇮Ivory Coast 71-69 Iran🇮🇷
— Basketball Sphere (EN) (@BSphere_) August 28, 2023
3 out of 3 African national teams today.
South Sudan ✅Cape Verde✅Ivory Coast✅
The battle for a spot at the Olympic Games will be interesting to the end.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/g1Gh8b7r86
Ivory Coast managed to recover from that situation, but a shock came when Bazouman Kone had to leave the court due to an injury. This affected Prokic’s team’s performance in the second half. Iran’s zone defense further complicated matters for Ivory Coast.
The game reached an uncertain finish, and just when it seemed Iran was close to victory, Hakan Demir received a technical foul with six seconds left. Solo Diabate made three free throws, and on the other end, Benham Yakchali missed a shot for the win, sparking a big celebration for Ivory Coast.
Top scorers for the winners were Nisre Zouzoua with 17 points, along with Maxence Dadiet and Amadou Sidibe with 10 points each. On the losing side, Benham Yakchali led with 19 points, followed by Mohhamad Amini with 15 points. In the next round, Iran will face Spain, while Ivory Coast will take on Brazil.